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| BHA silent on morphine case as latest trainer admits involvement | BHA silent on morphine case as latest trainer admits involvement |
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| The British Horseracing Authority refused to respond on Wednesday night when confronted with a new complication in the case of the five racehorses which have recently tested positive for morphine. The evidence of Eve Johnson Houghton, trainer of one of the five, appears to blow a hole in the widely accepted theory that a single feed product is to blame and undermines efforts intended to reassure racing professionals and fans that the problem has been contained. | The British Horseracing Authority refused to respond on Wednesday night when confronted with a new complication in the case of the five racehorses which have recently tested positive for morphine. The evidence of Eve Johnson Houghton, trainer of one of the five, appears to blow a hole in the widely accepted theory that a single feed product is to blame and undermines efforts intended to reassure racing professionals and fans that the problem has been contained. |
| Johnson Houghton said her Charlie Wells had tested positive for a “minuscule amount” of morphine after winning at Chepstow on 23 June. As a result, she is resigned to him being disqualified and has had to endure the testing of all 40 of her horses by the BHA, results of which are still awaited. | Johnson Houghton said her Charlie Wells had tested positive for a “minuscule amount” of morphine after winning at Chepstow on 23 June. As a result, she is resigned to him being disqualified and has had to endure the testing of all 40 of her horses by the BHA, results of which are still awaited. |
| The feed supplier Dodson & Horrell has admitted it is investigating possible contamination of one of its products, Alfalfa Oil Plus, batches of which may apparently have come into contact with naturally occurring poppy seeds. Dodson & Horrell says its investigation suggests that the contamination may have occurred on the premises of an unnamed supplier and does not believe that any of its other products have been affected. Johnson Houghton says she does use some Dodson & Horrell products, including soya oil, but not Alfalfa Oil Plus. “I’m absolutely assured that it’s nothing I could have given them or my staff could have given them or anything we could have given them in error, unless it was actually in the feed,” she said. | |
| “It’s nothing we’ve done wrong. I need to know that I’m not running with a problem, because we don’t know what it is or where it’s come from. Everything comes back to, where does it come from? I don’t know. The thing is, it’s such minuscule amounts that, really, it’s not performance enhancing and I think the BHA need to start looking at a threshold.” | “It’s nothing we’ve done wrong. I need to know that I’m not running with a problem, because we don’t know what it is or where it’s come from. Everything comes back to, where does it come from? I don’t know. The thing is, it’s such minuscule amounts that, really, it’s not performance enhancing and I think the BHA need to start looking at a threshold.” |
| Johnson Houghton was later cheered by an easy victory for her Panther Patrol but must spend the next few weeks fretting over the possibility that he may also test positive. “Once you’ve had a positive, they test all your runners,” she said. | Johnson Houghton was later cheered by an easy victory for her Panther Patrol but must spend the next few weeks fretting over the possibility that he may also test positive. “Once you’ve had a positive, they test all your runners,” she said. |
| Charlie Hills and Sir Michael Stoute are the other trainers known to have had runners test positive for morphine in recent weeks. Stoute had runners here but was not present and staff at his Newmarket stable said he would not be commenting on the story, following Tuesday’s revelation that Estimate, which he trains for the Queen, had tested positive at Royal Ascot. | Charlie Hills and Sir Michael Stoute are the other trainers known to have had runners test positive for morphine in recent weeks. Stoute had runners here but was not present and staff at his Newmarket stable said he would not be commenting on the story, following Tuesday’s revelation that Estimate, which he trains for the Queen, had tested positive at Royal Ascot. |
| There was some small consolation here for Her Majesty when her colours were carried to victory by Fiery Sunset, also from Newmarket but based with the trainer Michael Bell. Ian Smith, representing Bell, said there had been no morphine positives at his stable but added that any racing yard was entirely dependent on the feed supplier. “We can’t be testing every bag of nuts that comes in,” he said. | There was some small consolation here for Her Majesty when her colours were carried to victory by Fiery Sunset, also from Newmarket but based with the trainer Michael Bell. Ian Smith, representing Bell, said there had been no morphine positives at his stable but added that any racing yard was entirely dependent on the feed supplier. “We can’t be testing every bag of nuts that comes in,” he said. |
| BHA insiders are likely to see the Johnson Houghton news as justification for their extremely cautious approach to discussing the case. Since the story began with a press release from their office last Thursday evening, there has been little in the way of additional detail from the regulator, which still will not confirm any names of those involved, even as those details leak into the public domain. | BHA insiders are likely to see the Johnson Houghton news as justification for their extremely cautious approach to discussing the case. Since the story began with a press release from their office last Thursday evening, there has been little in the way of additional detail from the regulator, which still will not confirm any names of those involved, even as those details leak into the public domain. |
| The BHA’s stony silence may persist for another fortnight, as a spokesman said no comment would be offered until the results of all the relevant ‘B’ samples are known. Connections of the initial five horses involved had until Monday to request that the ‘B’ sample be tested and it is understood that some, but not all, did so. | |
| Under the rules, a period of three weeks is permitted before the ‘B’ sample result must be reported to the BHA. In theory, therefore, it may be 11 August before the BHA finally confirms the names of the horses that have tested positive, though officials hope matters do not drag on so long. | Under the rules, a period of three weeks is permitted before the ‘B’ sample result must be reported to the BHA. In theory, therefore, it may be 11 August before the BHA finally confirms the names of the horses that have tested positive, though officials hope matters do not drag on so long. |
| By then, there may be other positives; indeed, those close to the investigation believe that is the next thing to a certainty. But the fevered speculation of “up to 15 horses” being involved is reckoned to be no more than that. | By then, there may be other positives; indeed, those close to the investigation believe that is the next thing to a certainty. But the fevered speculation of “up to 15 horses” being involved is reckoned to be no more than that. |
| In the meantime, there was some support for Dodson & Horrell, which has been official supplier to the British Equestrian Federation since 2009. Its feed will be used by Team GBR’s horses at the Rio Olympics in 2016. The reaction from Will Connell, the BEF’s performance director, suggested that this week’s news will probably not put that association in jeopardy. | |
| “I am completely satisfied that Dodson & Horrell have reacted quickly and efficiently, once they discovered the possible contamination from one of their suppliers,” Connell said. “They have recalled the feed and been in contact with riders that feed the Dodson & Horrell product that may have been contaminated. | “I am completely satisfied that Dodson & Horrell have reacted quickly and efficiently, once they discovered the possible contamination from one of their suppliers,” Connell said. “They have recalled the feed and been in contact with riders that feed the Dodson & Horrell product that may have been contaminated. |
| “I do not see this having any negative effect on the British teams preparing for Hickstead or the World Equestrian Games. There was a mistake made, it was identified and rectified and this is not a cause for panic.” |